Beverage preparation machine with drop evacuation

Abstract

A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (100) has a beverage directing guide (10), an evacuation guide (20) and an actuator (30). The directing guide (10) is movable between a dispensing position and a non-dispensing position. The directing guide (10) is configured to deliver beverage (100) or waste liquid (101) into the evacuation guide (20) towards the placing area (2) or towards the waste collector (3). The directing guide (10) is movable relative to the evacuation guide (20). The evacuation guide (20) is actuated by the actuator (30) to act on the directing guide (10) so as to move the directing guide (10) towards at least one of the dispensing position and the non-dispensing position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A machine for dispensing a beverage, the machine has comprising a beverage directing guide, an evacuation guide and an actuator, the directing guide being movable from:
 a dispensing position for directing, by the directing guide, a beverage to an area for placing a user-recipient; to 
 a non-dispensing position for directing, by the directing guide, waste liquid to a waste collector; and vice versa, 
 the directing guide being configured to deliver the beverage or the waste liquid into the evacuation guide towards the placing area or towards the waste collector, the directing guide being movable relative to the evacuation guide, 
 wherein the evacuation guide is actuated by the actuator to act on the directing guide so as to move the directing guide towards at least one of the dispensing position and the non-dispensing position. 
 
     
     
       2. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the evacuation guide is arranged to push and/or pull the directing guide. 
     
     
       3. The machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a stationary frame, the directing guide being pivotally and/or translationally, directly or indirectly, mounted to the frame, the evacuation guide being pivotally and/or translationally, directly or indirectly, mounted to the frame. 
     
     
       4. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a motor. 
     
     
       5. The machine of  claim 1 , which comprises a transmission for transmitting a movement from the actuator to the evacuation guide. 
     
     
       6. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the evacuation guide has a conduit and a tub or funnel in fluid communication with the conduit, the tub or funnel being configured to collect beverage or waste liquid from the directing guide and to guide it into the conduit towards the placing area or towards the waste collector. 
     
     
       7. The machine of  claim 1 , which comprises a beverage processing unit having a beverage guide and a unit outlet, the directing guide having a flow cavity, a bottom and sidewalls such that the bottom and the sidewalls delimit the flow cavity. 
     
     
       8. The machine of  claim 7 , wherein the directing guide has an inflow penetrator for penetrating a flow of beverage delivered by the unit outlet onto the inflow penetrator when the directing guide is in the dispensing position. 
     
     
       9. The machine of  claim 8 , wherein the inflow penetrator comprises an in-flow exposed protuberance. 
     
     
       10. The machine of  claim 7 , wherein the directing guide has an inflow deflector for deflecting a flow of beverage delivered by the unit outlet thereon when the directing guide is in the dispensing position. 
     
     
       11. The machine of  claim 10 , wherein the inflow deflector extends longitudinally at an angle to a horizontal direction. 
     
     
       12. The machine of  claim 10 , wherein the inflow deflector is spaced above the bottom of the directing guide to allow a flow of waste liquid under the inflow deflector when the directing guide is in the non-dispensing position. 
     
     
       13. The machine of  claim 7 , wherein the directing guide has an inflow confinement panel for confining a flow of beverage delivered by the unit outlet upon entry into the directing guide. 
     
     
       14. The machine of  claim 7 , wherein the directing guide comprises a beverage dam arrangement that is formed of at least one beverage retaining wall. 
     
     
       15. The machine of  claim 1 , which has:
 a user-removable support frame that supports the directing guide; and 
 a seat above the placing area for removably receiving the support frame, 
 the support frame having an assembly arrangement for movably assembling the directing guide to the support frame whereby the directing guide is movable in the support frame from the dispensing position to the non-dispensing position and vice versa. 
 
     
     
       16. The machine of  claim 15 , which comprises a beverage processing unit having a beverage guide and a unit outlet via which liquid is passed from the beverage guide to the directing guide that is located below the unit outlet, and wherein the support frame has:
 an upstream opening adjacent the unit outlet when the directing guide and the support frame are in the seat. 
 
     
     
       17. The machine of  claim 15 , further comprising a locking arrangement that is movable between a locking position in which the locking arrangement locks the support frame and the directing guide in the seat and an unlocking position in which the locking arrangement allows at least a removal of the support frame and the directing guide from the seat. 
     
     
       18. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the directing guide has a flow cavity, a beverage outlet that is configured for beverage to drain out of the flow cavity to the placing area and a waste outlet that is configured for waste liquid to drain out of the flow cavity to the waste collector.